Justin Fields Hints At Coaching Issues Causing His NFL Struggles

Justin Fields has had an inconsistent start to his NFL career, to say the least. And he is now strongly insinuating that coaching could be playing a role in that.

Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields has had his fair share of struggles at the NFL level, to say the least.

Throughout his rookie campaign in 2021, Fields was much-maligned but the Chicago Bears fan base for his inconsistencies in the passing game.

Those numbers did improve in 2022, but not to a level in which the fan base would relieve any of that pressure. 

And while he has been able to put up gaudy numbers on the ground at a consistent level, the passing still seems to be an issue early on in 2023.

Fields opened up about those struggles to the media on Wednesday, hinting that it could actually be coaching that is slowing him down.

"It could be coaching I think," Fields said. "They're doing their job when they're giving me what to look at and stuff like that, but at the end of the day, I can't be thinking about that when the game comes. I prepare myself throughout the week and then when the game comes, It's time to play free at that point. So just thinking less and playing more."

Here's the full video of Justin Fields talking today to the media about his struggles and what he needs to get back to doing, along with his full explanation on "coaching" potentially being part of the issue.

Fields opened up... https://t.co/18iViHWfoj pic.twitter.com/37ocE7e7zQ

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 20, 2023

To be fair, Fields could be on to something here, as the Bears organization has been the victim of notoriously poor quarterback play, dating back years and regardless of the staff in place. 

Even Jay Cutler, who was the most productive quarterback in terms of raw numbers in franchise history, still struggled with inconsistencies and mistakes to a significant degree.

That said, Fields calling out the coaching staff to the media and hinting that they are 'feeding him too much information', is certainly an interesting way to go about things.

"I don't think it's too many coaching voices," Fields said. "But I just think that when you're fed a lot of information at a point and time, and you're trying to think about that info when you're playing, it doesn't let you play like yourself."

However, Fields didn't stop there. Instead, he doubled down, claiming that if he was playing 'like his old self' - presumably meaning without coaches in his ear - that he could have played much better this past Sunday.

"I saw a few plays on Sunday where, if I was playing like my old self, we would have had a positive play, there would have been a few more third down conversions. I think that's the biggest thing for me is playing the game how I know how to play it and how I've been playing it my whole life."

So how is Fields planning on rebounding in Week 3?

He plans to say "Eff it," think less, go play instinctual football, and just be himself.

"My goal this week is to just say 'Eff it' and go out there and play football how I know how to play football," Fields said. "That includes thinking less and going out there and playing off of instincts instead of so much info in my head or data in my head and literally going out there and playing football. That's when I play my best. When I'm just going out there and playing free... I'm going to go out there and be me."

That will be a tall task, however, with the Bears set to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT.